The U.S. acetic acid market held steady in early August, with tariff protection and stable construction-linked demand offsetting weaker methanol costs. Producers operated at consistent rates with balanced inventories, while exports into Latin America remained steady. Consumption was resilient in solvents, coatings, and adhesives, though industrial buyers avoided long-term commitments due to economic uncertainty. Ongoing tariff measures under IEEPA could lift effective U.S. tariff rates to the highest since 1941, raising risks of retaliation while shielding domestic producers. Market sentiment remains steady, with policy developments and construction spending trends expected to guide near-term performance.
Selenis has effectively manufactured recycled PET chips using terephthalic acid sourced from Circ®, a textile-to-textile recycler based in Virginia. The chip production took place through a series of batches at Selenis' pilot plant in San-Giorgio, Italy. By utilizing inputs recovered from polycotton textile waste, Selenis has created high-quality PET chip, which has been further processed into DTY yarn. This yarn will play a crucial role in product development as Circ prepares for additional capsule launches. Selenis is leveraging the success of this initial collaboration phase and is committed to advancing towards an offtake partnership to support Circ's inaugural industrial facility.
Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis, remarked that the monomer synthesis showed a performance comparable to virgin terephthalic acid. He expressed optimism about the consistent quality of Circ's monomer output and anticipated future commercial success. Santos pointed out that the Circ partnership complements Selenis's existing mission and goals for a more sustainable textile industry. He further stated their anticipation of expanding upon this collaboration and providing support for Circ's forthcoming commercial production trials.
